These are amazing ball point pens. The ink flow is very smooth for a ball (it feels like a gel, but won't smear like a gel). The tips are strong, but will be rendered useless of dropped on the tip. They are of course refillable. Google them on the net. I think there is a Japanese supply store in San Francisco that retails them online. The hairline .25mm is great for quick underlays, .5mm and up for defining. The bleed is minimal with a fresh set of Copics or Chartpaks.

Pros: even flow, strong sketching nib, refillable, good detail work in the .25mm
Cons: $$, keep some refills nearby â€“ the ink can move pretty quickly, lightweight plastic can feel cheap in hand

Yes cg, it's not a continuous flow like the gels (my gripe as well). The gradation is minimal below the .5mm nib though. I haven't had any issues with the hi-tec clogging near as much as the bics i was using. Have you used the bic orange fine before? I just order a set from a store in the UK...I've heard good things.

The best benefit I found when I got mines (heard about them from the Feng videos) is they don't smear or bleed when you marker over them. They were developed for kanji writers who write very small and often smear other pens. I still like a good cheap bic for the expressive lines, but if you are going to marker up, photocopy, use the hi tec and lay down the markers!

I've been using my Hi-Tec-C pens for years, I've been happy with them until a recent project required me to use a straight edge and some ship curves to define some lines. I noticed that after a day of running the pens along the edges it caused the tips to wear out, making them useless. They are wonderful pens for freehand sketching, but beware of using them along with a straight edge.

scrotum wrote:Beware also that the Hi-Tec C ink is water-based, if you go over with markers you are going to smear all your sketch lines. I found this out the hard way.

What paper are you using? I soak markers all over Hi Tec C lines and get no smear at all.

The only retail place I've found near when I live is the...http://www.mitsuwa.com/market outside of Chicago in Arlington Heights. If you're not near the area check out any other Asian market in your area. If they have a stationary section you might find them.